It would be useful if you could find the centre of a shape quickly without having to laboriously measure with the rulers. It's possible to make guides with the select tool but of course they disappear from the screen if you click outside them

Ideally you would drag over the area to be measured (similar to the select tool) and when you release a temporary marker would appear in the centre. Input a number to divide the area into more than one unit. ie. type in 4 to create 4 equally distanced markers. An adjustable grid that can be moved around the canvas area.

Ideally you would drag over the area to be measured (similar to the select tool) and when you release a temporary marker would appear in the centre. Input a number to divide the area into more than one unit. ie. type in 4 to create 4 equally distanced markers. An adjustable grid that can be moved around the canvas area.

I hope someone understands you what your are trying to achieve, because I have no idea

I was basically looking for ways measure distance. I was actually designing a comic strip using Photoshop and wanted to divide the page into equal distances without doing a calculation and thought some kind of centre finding tool might be useful. The thing about the grid is that it is fixed which works well with the page as a whole but if you could move it around the screen it may be easier to measure parts of the screen or shapes. It was only an idea which admittedly might be better suited to another application (or not at all). I thought a moveable grid might be good for looking at weather systems or photo fit.

If I understand you correctly Photoshop does what you want. I've never needed to do that myself, but I just checked it out, and if you follow these steps you can check it yourself.

First create a new blank image and make sure the Grid is displayed - View > Show > Grid or alternatively press Ctrl + ' (the apostrophe key).

Ctrl + K to open the preferences, and then Ctrl + 8 to get to the Guides, Gid & Slices screen.

In the Grid section for the unit of Gridline Every, choose Percent.

In the Subdivisions fieled type 1.

For the value of Gridline Every, type a percentage number that makes desired grid divisions - for example to divide the canvas in 4 equal rectangles type 50. This also works with odd number of divisions too but on the canvas size I tried it, the grid fits better if the infinite number is rounded to the next number. For example if you want grid with 3 divisions type 33.4 instead of 33.33333333333333 etc.

To move the Grid on the image move the Zero Origin of the ruler. In case you don't know how, check the manual, here is a link to that part:

Thanks, yes thats what I was talking about. I meant, as a suggestion, having the ability to change the outline size of the grid and drag it around the screen in the same way you position a ruler on a page might be a useful feature.

Your replies don't make it clear if following my suggestions helps achieving what you want from your feature request.

And if you don't give a clear and proper feedback about solutions suggested from other people, I don't think anyone will pay attention to your feature requests.

I didn't waste my time. I spent my time to help you which also helps me to practice and expand my problem solving skills when using software like Photoshop. So, even if you are not taking advantage when I'm trying to help you I'm still benefiting from my time spent here.

...Yes, but in CS5, V can be held down just to switch to that tool, drag the ruler, and continue with your previous tool...

CTRL+T is modal, one would need to commit...

I think in that respect both are the same when you are transforming. Let's say you are using a brush, press Ctrl + T, transform, apply to commit, and you back with the brush. Holding V while using the brush will let you only move without committing but not when transforming and you can move without that option on.

PECourtejoie wrote:

...And I do agree that by helping, we are learning!

Do you visit other fora?

Yes, recently mostly the Photoshop forums but I'm a user of mulitple Adobe products so I'm regular around here

Oh, I see what you mean by "drag a ruler" - create a guide by dragging from the ruler and snapping the guide to the center point of the transform box.

Yeah, with Ctrl + T that would be pressing the Esc key after dragging the guide. So it is basically Holding V vs. pressing Ctrl + T and then Esc to achieve the same. The second choice may be preferable for those who don't want to see the transform handles every time they move something. But the handles may be preferable for those who want to make sure what is about to be moved in a complex multi layered image.

An option to centre a grid rather than start it on the left would sort this out very simply, wouldn't it?

( my workround goes like this- I don't need to find the centre of an area within a file, but often need to find the centre of the file as a whole- I do this by using the line tool and making diagonals- a quick solution but it does mean you end up with more layers, and if you change the proportions of the file you have to do it again.

If I want horixontal/vertical axis guides through the centre I just drag guides from the ruler until they hit the centre cross made by the two diagonals.)